Alexei Stakhanov facts for kids

Alexei Grigoryevich Stakhanov (Russian: Алексе́й Григо́рьевич Стаха́нов, IPA: [stɐˈxanəf], Alekséy Grigór'yevich Stachánov; 3 January 1906 – 5 November 1977) was a famous Soviet and Russian miner. He was known as a Hero of Socialist Labour (1970) and was a member of the CPSU from 1936.

He became very famous in 1935 because of something called the Stakhanovite movement. This was a big effort to make workers produce more goods and show how well the socialist economic system worked.

Early Life and Mining Career

Alexei Stakhanov was born in 1906 in a village called Lugovaya. This village was in the Russian Empire at the time. When he was in his early 20s, he started working in a coal mine. The mine was named "Tsentralnaia-Irmino" and was located in Kadiivka in the Donbas region.

In 1933, Stakhanov became an operator of a jackhammer, a powerful tool used for breaking rocks. He also took a special mining course in 1935 to improve his skills.

Setting Mining Records

On August 31, 1935, Alexei Stakhanov achieved something amazing. He reportedly mined 102 tonnes of coal in just 5 hours and 45 minutes. This was a huge amount, about 14 times more than what was expected of a miner in that time!

His success was celebrated widely. On September 19, he was said to have set an even bigger record. He reportedly mined 227 tonnes of coal in a single work shift. His achievements were shown in newspapers and on posters as an example for all other workers. He even appeared on the cover of Time magazine in the United States.

Stakhanovite Movement and Later Life

Stakhanov's incredible records inspired a country-wide movement. This was called the Stakhanovite movement. Workers who managed to produce much more than their targets were called "Stakhanovites." They were seen as heroes and models for others to follow.

From 1936 to 1941, Stakhanov studied at the Industrial Academy in Moscow. After that, he held important positions in the mining industry. He worked in the Ministry of Coal Industry of the USSR from 1943 to 1957. He retired from his work in 1974.

Alexei Stakhanov was also a deputy in the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, which was like a parliament. He received many honors, including two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. The last Sunday of August was even named "Coal Miner's Day" to honor miners like him.

He passed away in 1977 when he was 71 years old. The town of Kadiivka in Ukraine, where he first worked, was renamed Stakhanov in his honor in 1978. However, its original name was given back in 2016.

Was the Record Disputed?

Over the years, some people have questioned how Stakhanov's record was set. In 1985, The New York Times newspaper wrote that while Stakhanov did achieve his feat, it was planned by the Communist Party. They wanted to boost public spirits and show off. Many other miners reportedly helped Stakhanov, but the credit for the huge amount of coal went only to him.

A Soviet newspaper, Komsomolskaya Pravda, also said in 1988 that Stakhanov's achievements were exaggerated. They claimed he had many helpers for support tasks. However, the newspaper also noted that Stakhanov's method did lead to better work organization and higher productivity in the long run.

Some have also claimed that other miners, like Alija Sirotanović from Yugoslavia, later broke Stakhanov's record.

Personal Life

Alexei Stakhanov had two partners and six children.

Legacy

• From 1938 to 1947, a city in Russia called Zhukovsky was named Stakhanovo.
• From 1978 to 2016, the Ukrainian city of Kadiivka was named Stakhanov.
• In George Orwell's famous book, Animal Farm, the character of Boxer is said to represent Stakhanov.

Images for kids

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  Stakhanov on the cover of Time Magazine, 16 December 1935.

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  Alexei Stakhanov, a student of Industrial Academy, on the front page of Pravda newspaper, November 15, 1937.

See also

In Spanish: Alekséi Stajánov para niños

• List of people awarded the Hero of Socialist Labour
• Wang Jinxi
• Frank Laskier
• Lei Feng
• Alija Sirotanović